Probing Proverbs: Substance over Function = Integrity!

Probing Proverbs 11:1 The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.

In this day a great presentation is what people look at, meanwhile they miss the reality of what's inside! We live such a corrupt world, especially in the world of Churchianity. 

People that claim to know Christ personally, but by their actions, their greed and dishonesty bring Him shame and damage the ones watching them. The bar must be raised to the highest point for believers on the issue of integrity. Not that any of us will be perfect, but even in how we handle our sins and failures should be an example of integrity.

We saw that integrity is valid with God. Here are some other reasons why this quality is so essential.

·      Integrity is a priority with God!

1 Kings 9:1-5 When Solomon had finished building the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had achieved all he had desired to do, the LORD appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. The LORD said to him: "I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. "As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.'

What a promise!!! Remember, based on David’s life this cannot mean perfection, because David was far from that! Yet, when he did fail, even though it may have taken confrontation by God, David repented and returned – this is a heart of integrity!

Isaiah 59:12-15 For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the LORD, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.  Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.

God hates ALL sin, but notice how much of what displeased God has to do with honesty and truth.

Deuteronomy 25:15 You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Even their stay in the land had to do with their integrity!

·      Integrity is a Visible Characteristic

Nehemiah 7:1-2 After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed.  I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do.

Titus 2:7-8 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Proverbs 16:13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth.

Integrity is never anything a person has to say they have, it is seen!

This statement by DeBrine speaks of integrity, proper speech and words: "Live with the microphone on."

·      You alone control your Integrity

Abraham Lincoln on integrity:  "I desire to conduct the affairs of this administration that if, at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall have at least one friend left - and that friend shall be down inside me."

Job 2:3-9 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face." The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”  So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"

Mark 12:14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

No one can take your integrity away – you…and you alone give it away!

·      Integrity is a Key to direction

Proverbs 10:9 The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.

Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

Proverbs 13:6 Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

So many believers are seeking direction from God, but do not understand when they have not been honest with God about their entire life, that stops God from leading them to the unknown, because they will not even be honest with the known God has already shown them.

·      Integrity will bring testing and even persecution

Proverbs 29:10 Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to kill the upright.

Luke 20:20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.

Bob McQuilkin gives this explanation about his decision to resign as president of Columbia Bible College to take care of his wife, Muriel, who has Alzheimer's:

"As she needed more and more of me, I wrestled daily with the question of who gets me full-time Muriel or Columbia Bible College and Seminary? ... When the time came, the decision was firm.  It took no great calculation. It was a matter of integrity.  Had I not promised, 42 years before, `in sickness and in health...till death do us part'?

This was no grim duty to which I stoically resigned, however.  It was only fair.  She had, after all, cared for me for almost four decades with marvelous devotion; now it was my turn.  And such a partner she was!  If I took care of her for 40 years, I would be never be out of her debt.

I have been startled by the response to the announcement of my resignation. Husbands and wives renew marriage vows, pastors tell the story to their congregations.  It was a mystery to me, until a distinguished oncologist, who lives constantly with dying people, told me, `Almost all women stand by their men; very few men stand by their women.'"

Just one thought: Jesus did something that should challenge us all. It is one thing to ask your friends what they think of you, but it is another thing to ask your enemies!!! 

John 8:39–46 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. “But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do… “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?

Thought: How would your enemies describe you?